Maciej Brdak, ZiemnicePiggybank number: 120014

Support!

History

To begin with, let me introduce myself and tell a bit of my life story. My name's Maciej and I'm 45.I am lucky to have a wonderful family, a lovely wife, a beautiful daughter and a beloved son. So far I've worked in a company as a regional manager, which gives me the job satisfaction that I had always wanted. Honestly, I can say this job challenged me and made me a successful worker, so that my family can be proud of me. What is more, people call me a man of many hobbies. I'm interested in football, I'm training bodybuilding, I love cycling and all kinds of DIY jobs. When I'm active, I feel I'm alive.

On 24th October 2017 my whole world fell apart. I received devastating news - a tumour the size of an orange (8 /4 cm) inside my brain. It was located on the right side of my brain. Growing incredibly fast it caused unbearably strong headaches and frequent collapses. Together with my family I had to make a quick decision to operate it. Despite the neurosurgeon's prognosis, which didn't give me much hope to survive the operation (I could have had left paresis, become blind or even die) it went well, which was a real miracle for me and my family. The doctors managed to cut out the tumour completely, which was confirmed in the last magnetic resonance. I realised God had given me a second chance.

Two weeks passed since the operation, when we received the histopathological results and it was clearly stated: grade IV glioblastoma multiforme. That is the worst possible tumour. The results were also confirmed by the tests in Bydgoszcz. Nobody could deny, it is the malignant brain neoplasm, with a tendency to renew. I had no other choice as to undergo radiotherapy and chemotherapy in Legnica.

The standard approach to treatment in Poland does not make it possible to completely overcome this type of tumour. In Europe there are alternative commercial ways of GBM-IV treatment, but they're extremely expensive. We are unable to afford them. Below there are the three most promising types of treatment that were recommended to me. With your help I could be able to undergo one of them:

1. American method Optune by Novocure, which is available to try in Berlin - it costs 20.000 EURO per month. The treatment time is 6 months: https://www.optune.com/

Each of these alternative therapies include chemotherapy. We are trying to collect money to save my life and health. I dream of nothing but to see how my son grows up, my daughter graduates her studies and gets married. All I want is to live the life I had before the tumour. Your help is invaluable for me and my family. Even a little input of yours will bring me closer to undergoing one of these alternative treatment methods, unfortunately inaccessible in Poland.

Your help will give me a supportive hand to fight against the tumour and be happy with my family again. Each penny is very precious for me.